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LILLA W. ROBARTS. 



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A SHEAF 



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lAriNTER Birds 



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In every life there caraes a time 
WJien all the ^x/arld is drear ; 

And e'en the very air vja hreathB 
Is iiEaTjy "with, despair, 

ilnd so I hind my -winter sheaf, 
And hang it up on high, 

Hoping that it may give relief 
Tn snoAAZ-birds, flitting by, 



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LILLA W, RnBAR.TS, 




ATLANTA, DA.: 

Jas. P, Harrison & Co,, Printers. 

1BB5, 



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Entered according to Act of Congress in the year lSf5, 

By LILLA W. ROBARTS, 

In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 



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Contents. 



I. 

One Stkp from Night to Day 5 

II. 
A Woman's Smile 7 

III. 
Just as My Father Wishes 

IV. 
Thi: (I lad Surprise 11 

V. 
One Step at a Time 14 

VI. 
Wait to be Crowned 15 



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nXI'J STEP FROM NIGHT To DA Y. 

HE very latest moment ere 
^ The iirst footfall of Help we gladly hear 
•^ Is ever}^ bit as still, and full as drear, 
As hours and months before. 

The sun, that on a gloomy day, 
Hides for awhile its face, then lights our wa\-. 
Sends not a herald ere its beauteous ray 
Bursts from behind the cloud. 

But when the Lord, so great and high, 
Who, seeming far, is ever nigh. 
Divides the portieres of the sky, 
Then cloud gives place to sun. 

And He who guides the mighty spheres, 
Cares even more to wipe the tears. 
To ease the heart and quell the fears, 
Of children of His love, 



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8 A Sheaf for Winter Birds. 

Till his spirit fell within him; 

Paralyzing, dark despair, 
Holding all his being fettered, 

Writing out destruction there! 

But the gentle word in passing 

Struck a light in the awful gloom; 
And he thought how his mother taught him, 

For the vilest there is room. 

So he knocked at th^^ p;ate of mercy, 

With a feeble, quivering hope; 
But as quick as his hand had touched it, 

Just so quick did its portals ope ! 

And his ver}^ soul was melted 

At the Father's wondrous love, 
That could reach from the highest heaven, 

Down, to lift him up above! 

All the world was full of beauty. 

As he trod the western slope: 
Safely trod, till gates of glory 

To receive him home did ope. 

There the man, once dark and sinful. 

Free is now from grief and guile! 
And the Hfe of a soul immortal. 

Saved by the light of a woman's smile ! 

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A Sheaf Joy , Winter Birds. 9 

J UHT . 1 ,S' 3f r l\ 1 TilEJi WISHES. ' ' 

READ the letter over; 
§\ My eyes were filled with tears; 
^^^ And e'en her sweet submission 

Could not subdue my fears. 

" Just as my Father wishes ! 
1 could not ask for more! 
Though dark and deep the waters, 
That bear me to the shore. 

" I tremble in the darkness; 
But onl}^ tighter clasp 
The precious hand of Jesus, 

That my own hand doth grasp. 

" And though I oft am fearful 
That I may slack my hold, 
I know there is no danger 

That His grasp will grow cold. 

" For Jesus is as anxious 

That I should reach my home. 
As I am filled with longing 

Into His light to come. j 



V 

lo A Sheaf for Winter Birds. 

" And He will gently lead me 
O'er rough and even way, 
And, till the daylight breaketh, 
Will be m}^ strength and stay. 

" He'd fill my life with gladness. 
If it were best for me ! 
And I may safely trust Him, 
Although I cannot see. 

" Just as my Father wishes! 
His mercy and His might. 
Will bear me safely onward, 
Through darkness, into light." 




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A Sheaf for Winter Birds. ii 



THE GLAD SURPRISE. 

DREAMPT that an angel told me 
God wanted me on high; 

But only for a little while, 
So I need not say good-bye. 



And on he gently bore me, 

Even to Heaven's gate; 
But at its pearly portals 

He bade me w^atch and wait. 

I saw them clothe the ransomed, 
As they came, in robes of white. 

And heard the shout of triumph 
"For the victors after fight." 

I saw the loved in Heaven at home. 
Who watched hard by the gate, 

Welcome their dear ones as they came; 
And, oh, 'twas hard to wait! 



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Quickl}^, I prayed the angel 
That I, too, might enter in. 
" Wait, wait," was every word he said, 
" Wait till the crown you win," 



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12 A Sheaf for Winter Birds. 

I turned again, when, lo, there came 

One I had'left below ! 
Left toiling on in bitter grief, 

Crushed with a hopeless woe. 

Her noble boy, between whose soul 
And hers, flowed sweetest love. 

Death claimed, nor dared she even hope, 
That the}^ might meet above. 

She knew him generous, fond and true, 

And full of manly pride; 
But feared he had refused God's gift, 

A Saviour crucitied. 

Now on she comes — but see that look! 

That flash of untold joy! 
Among the waiting at the gate. 

In Heaven, she finds her boy! 

Angels, and saints, and seraphims. 

One moment cease their song! 
Breathless with holy sympathy, 

Then swell it loud and long! 



I knew no more; but when at morn 
I wakened with the light, 



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A Sheaf J or Winter Birds. ij 

I scarce could take up life again 
For the vision of the night. 

But I felt that God had sent for me, 

And brought me back again, 
That I might soothe some stricken heart, 

Some wounded spirit's pain. 

And this I said: we know not all 

Whose names are writ above; 
The light of Heaven, alone, can tell 

The fullness of God's love! 




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14 A Sheaf for Winter Birds. 



ONE STEP AT A TIME. 

"F when we get up in the morning, 
And begin the day to cHmb, 
^^) We only could remember 

To take one step at a time. 

One round at a time of the ladder, 

Fear not, it is safe and sound; 
And God hath divided the distance 

From the first to the topmost round. 

Oh, why should man, God's image, 

Of all the works of time. 
Go chafing, stumbling on through life. 

Nor catch the step sublime t 

No hour comes empty-handed. 

Brings just enough, no more; 
And with it all the needed strength. 

If we reach not before. 

Take things as the Father sends them. 

Who lovingl}' plans the way; 
And Hfe will be glory-tinted 

E'en on a cloudy day. 

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A Sheaf for Winter Birds. i^ 



^VAIT TO BE CROWNED. 

HE warrior, ere he wins the day, 
Doth not expect the wreath of bay 

To rest upon his brow; 
But when, the battle struggle o'er. 
In triumph he comes home once more, 
He will receive it now. 
Wait to be crowned! 

So on the battle-field of life. 
While wages yet the din and strife. 

Think not to have renown : 
But when at last the day is done. 
The battle fought, the victory won. 

Thou wilt receive thy crown. 
Wait to be crowned! 

But may be, it is not for thee 
Thy full reward on earth to see; 

Fear not, it waits above: 
A.nd there, at last, midst angel bands. 
Thou wilt receive, from God's own hands, 

The crown of faith and love. 
Wait to be crowned! 



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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



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